Deron Williams has been on thin ice with the Brooklyn Nets ever since the team let go of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Injuries and inconsistencies continue to hurt his status in the league as the Nets first tried to get rid of the point guard back at the mid-season trade deadline. Now with the offseason quickly approaching, head coach Lionel Hollins is making it very clear exactly where Williams stands with the team.
Williams was thought to be the face of the franchise for the Brooklyn Nets, but Hollins is making it clear that is not true, at least not anymore. Williams is entering the final two years of a contract that will pay him $43 million. The Nets would love to get rid of that. According to the New York Post, Hollins will be a big advocate for a trade of Williams after the point guard scored a combined 36 points in five of the six playoff games. That does not include the 35-point Game 4. Hollins told the media that Williams' stock has dropped making him hard to get rid of.
"He's not a franchise player anymore," Hollins said, via the New York Post. "He's a good player, he's a solid player, but I don't think he's a franchise player anymore. That's just my opinion. He's a good player. I'm proud of the way he's bounced back and played and there's so much pressure on him to be a franchise player. ... Everybody talks about a franchise player, and we need to have a franchise team."
The only way the Nets get rid of Williams is if they lower their expectations of what they can get in return for the veteran and seek out teams with a large amount of cap space to work with. There is no way the New York Knicks make a move for Williams, but the Los Angeles Lakers could be an option. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers were interested in acquiring Williams for a moment and might take another look at the veteran if they fail to land someone like Rajon Rondo or Goran Dragic. Kobe Bryant has been critical of Williams as of late, but having successful rookie, Jordan Clarkson, to work in rotation should ease the struggles.
The Lakers need a point guard. The team said goodbye to Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin will follow. That leaves the Lakers with Clarkson. Los Angeles could try and target a trade for Brandon Jennings as well. According to the Detroit Free Press, the Pistons will try and re-sign Reggie Jackson which makes Jennings expendable. The Lakers could be wise to see. Of course Los Angeles will target the usual suspects of free agency as will every other team in the league. A trade might be the easier move to make.
